Welcome to the weekly Tennessee Titans draft roundup for the 2021 NFL Draft. Over the course of the next several weeks, I’ll be releasing this column once a week with my very professional journalism opinions. You’ll find everything from rumors to wild speculation to actual analysis (sometimes). Titan up!
*In no way, shape, or form does the hiring of Jim Schwartz as ‘Senior Defensive Analyst’ or whatever effect the Titans draft strategy, so I hope no one is out there suggesting it. You just never know on Titans Facebook. I don’t think the man’s going to have a say at all in who the Titans pick. I just wanted to take this opportunity to link my thoughts on the hiring. Shameless self-plug, I know.
*Sure as hell seems like Jadeveon Clowney is going to land with the Cleveland Browns. Titans fans shouldn’t be too bent out of shape over it. Clowney didn’t do too much while he was here, but I think with some adjusted expectations, he would’ve been a decent option as a third guy in the rotation. For the right price, I would’ve actually been okay with bringing him back. Now, I don’t expect that the Titans were ever really in on the 2021 iteration of #ClowneyWatch. It seems like J-Rob and Vrabel are just done with the experiment. Clowney did nothing for the Titans pass rush in 2020, but in a minimized (read: cheaper) role, he could’ve met the need for another veteran pass rusher in 2021. Based on last summer’s #ClowneyWatch, I’d imagine “cheaper” isn’t really an option for Clowney, though. I would keep ‘veteran’ and ‘high to mid round draft pick’ on the need list at pass rush. This remains a focal point of the offseason, and best wishes to the Browns…
*Paul Kuharsky has a really good piece up (subscription required, of course) exploring the idea of the Titans taking a right tackle at #22. I touched on this a little bit last week on The Unofficial Titans Podcast. I just wouldn’t be surprised either way. They could be thinking they’re still in need of the right tackle of the future, and they need to get a premium guy at the position. Or, they could be thinking they’re set with the collection of guys they have, considering they did help produce a 2,000-yard season with their 7th and 8th linemen last year. I think it would be a mistake to look over the dire needs at cornerback and wide receiver, but we don’t know how the draft is going to fall. Value at either of those positions might not be there, and they may decide to pull the trigger on a tackle. All I keep saying is, “don’t be surprised if they go tackle in the first round…“
Now, I want to shift gears and talk about a couple positions of need that we haven’t really talked about on the Titans Draft Roundup so far…
*It’s a bad year to be in need of a tight end, unless of course you have one of the first five picks in the draft and can take Kyle Pitts. The hype train for this kid is off the charts. I’ve even seen some analysts claiming he’s the best overall prospect in this entire draft. So, no, the Titans will not be drafting him at #22, and with several needs across the board, I can’t imagine they’re going to be willing to mortgage the future to move up and get him. So, you look at that next tier of guys – Pat Freiermuth and Brevin Jordan. I like Freiermuth a lot – he is a violent runner that has the type of size you want in a pro tight end. But, most analysts have him as TE2 in this class. Jordan is a dynamic guy, but he was rarely used as an inline blocker at Miami. In terms of fit with the Titans, blocking is going to be a major requisite for whoever the next starting tight end is going to be. While both guys will probably be there at #22, the value is not there to take either in the first round. I’m not confident that either will be there in the 2nd round either.
Beyond those two, everyone else in this class feels like a total crap shoot (I’m sorry, but I can’t get on board with your Tommy Tremble talk) – they’re either exclusively a blocker, or a receiving tight end that needs polishing before they can be expected to contribute at the NFL level. I just don’t think the Titans are going to find their Jonnu Smith replacement in this draft unless they give up their 2nd round pick to draft a guy like Freiermuth or Jordan.
*The Titans still need some defensive line depth at the very least, and I wouldn’t complain if they invested in another difference-maker at the position either. I’ve seen Christian Barmore mocked to the Titans on several mocks, and I don’t know that I’d necessarily eliminate that possibility. The Titans brass has made it obvious that beefing up the defensive front and tweaking the pass rush is of paramount importance. Barmore might not be the sexy EDGE pick, but he can definitely effect the pass rush and solidify an already promising starting defensive line.
*In case you haven’t been keeping up with my ‘Titans First Round Options’ series, I added Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins to the anthology. I watch his tape, and he just screams “inside linebacker” at the NFL level to me, and not so much the guy you just turn loose to harass the quarterback. It’s hard to imagine the Titans taking an ILB at #22 this year, but then again, if they go full sour on Rashaan Evans, and they don’t keep Jayon Brown beyond 2021, ILB is suddenly going to be a critical need for the team moving forward. He’s a solid prospect – I’m just not convinced that he’s the best solution for the Titans needs at #22. All of my “scouting reports,” for lack of a better term, on prospects are linked down below if you want more Titans draft coverage. I’m planning on adding a couple more this week. Greg Newsome is still my guy, though – that’s who I’m rooting for at #22.
*CBS recently did a seven-round mock for the Titans as transcribed by Terry Lambert for Music City Miracles here. The first and second round picks for the Titans were Newsome and Elijah Moore. That’s about as close to my dream scenario for the Titans as I’ve seen so far. Newsome is a sticky coverage guy that would fit well with the Titans and satisfy a major need. Moore is a dynamic and shifty play-maker that would complement AJ Brown well. You tack on a developmental pass rusher and tight end, and some depth along the offensive and defensive lines, and that’s about as good as you could get for the Titans. If it plays out like that, I would be ecstatic.
*As it stands, the Titans currently have nine picks in the 2021 NFL Draft:
- 1st round, 22nd overall
- 2nd round, 53rd overall
- 3rd round, 85th overall
- 3rd round, 100th overall
- 4th round, 126th overall
- 5th round, 166th overall
- 6th round, 205th overall
- 6th round, 215th overall
- 7th round, 232nd overall
MORE 2021 NFL DRAFT CONTENT
- It Is Insane To Suggest That Anyone Other Than Trevor Lawrence Should Be The Top Pick In This Year’s Draft
- My Top Five QBs Heading Into The 2021 NFL Draft
- Titans First Round Options: Zaven Collins
- Titans First Round Options: Greg Newsome
- Titans First Round Options: Jaylen Waddle
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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